Poultry drip fountain



June 28, 1949. c. DE LA GRANGE POULTRY DRIP FOUNTAIN Filed Sept. 4, 1945 Tic]. Ii.

E d J 0 Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED ST P G'FF I CE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a drinking fountain for poultry, rabbits and other animals and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device which is economical to operate, easy to keep clean, and which will not get out of order.

The objects of the invention and the many advantageous features thereof will appear upon perusal of the description to follow and by referring to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. l is a cross sectional, elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a substantially corresponding plan view of the device; and

Fig. 3 shows the valve of the device as it appears when removed therefrom.

The structure of my invention comprises a bowl-shaped body I, which is cast or molded into the form substantially as indicated in the drawing. It is recessed at the bottom and the recess is axially threaded to receive a water supply pipe A, such as ordinarily used in poultry founts. A stem or throat 2 rises from the bottom of the bowl in axial alignment with said recess and it extends substantially to the rim of the bowl. The throat is axially perforated to communicate with the bottom recess and in this perforation are cut screw threads of a size to receive the threaded stem of a valve 3. A bore 4 extends axially into this stem from the bottom thereof nearly to the top of the valve, and it is noticed that a second bore 5 extends inward and upward from the outer surface of the valve stem to communicate with the bore 4 thereof and to form therewith a passage for water from the pipe A to the interior of the bowl.

It is important to note that the upper portion of the throat 2 is conically tapered, substantially as indicated at 6, and that the valve head is correspondingly undercut; also that the bore 5 is inclined to form a passage for the water substantially in continued alignment with the conical space between the throat and the valve head.

By so shaping and proportioning these parts, it is seen that the water passing through the valve is delivered downward along the throat to the bottom of the bowl. It is further to be noted that the position of the valve may be adjusted by a mere rotation thereof to regulate the flow therethrough, thereby to supply suflicient water for the animals served thereby and so as to eliminate unnecessary waste of water. The valve should be fairly tightly seated in the threads of the throat so that it will not accidentally become readjusted; and the head of the valve is shown hexagonally shaped for convenient rotation by means of a wrench, but it may be otherwise shaped, if preferred.

Another important feature of my invention is that the stem or throat 2 extends approximately to the top of the bowl, thereby to deliver the water from the valve well above the bottom thereof. There is therefore no danger of food particles or grit entering the conical space between the valve and throat and possibly to clog the valve. It is equally important to note that the discharge opening from this conical space is below the rim of the bowl substantially even with the surface of the water within the bowl. This is done in order to prevent splashing in cases where it is necessary to maintain a considerable flow of water into the bowl. In order to prevent overflow over the entire rim of the bowl and incidental accumulation thereon of such light particles as may float on top of the water, I have shown a nick or groove 1 cut into the rim, through which any slight overflow may be directed.

While I have described a preferred form of the invention, it is not intended to be limited to the exact shapes, proportions and arrangements shown, but modifications may be embodied within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. A drinking fountain for animals comprising a cup or bowl axially mountable on a water supply pipe and having a hollow st-em axially rising from the bottom thereof, the upper portion of said stem being conically tapered, a valve seatable in said stem and axially adjustable therein, said valve having a head above the stem the bottom surface of which is undercut substantially to match the conical surface of the stem and spaced apart therefrom, there being a passage through the valve for water from said pipe to flow into the conical space between the valve head and the stem, the discharge opening from said conical space being below the rim of the bowl.

2. A drinking fountain for animals comprising a cup or bowl axially mountable on a water supply pipe and having a hollow stem axially rising wardly and downwardly to the conical space be- 10 tween the valve head and the stem, the discharge opening from said conical space being below the rim of the bowl.

CHARLES DE LA GRANGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 445,920 Buckley Feb. 3, 1891 1,603,198 Edington Oct. 12, 1926 1,766,126 Johnson June 24, 1930 2,250,759 Gardner July 29, 1941 2,309,458 Ingraham Jan. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,577/26 Australia Apr. 12, 1927 

